Learn from the Rain
Earlier last month, I received a text message from a dear sister; it read:
Wen we c rain we learn how gr8 it is2 b gud2 those who hav been bad2 u
For those who didn’t understand that, it translates as: “When we see rain we learn how great it is to be good to those who have been bad to you.”
Having read the message, I was left baffled - not because of what it says, but by whom it was sent as I didn’t recognise the number. In my confused state, rather than actually trying to decipher the message behind the message I focused on trying to find out who it was who’d sent me the message!
After tracking down the sender, I re-read the message. I was still confused. How does the rain teach you to be good to those who are bad to you? I thought the sister was trying to tell me something. Had I offended her without realising? No, the message wasn’t really about me at all. Read this poem I wrote back in March 2005 and maybe you too will understand.
His Mercy
The land was parched
Seemingly deserted
The cracks ran deep into the earth
Visible for miles
Barefooted and thirsty
She walked.
She swayed with fatigue
Desperately seeking sustenance.
Reminiscing the days
Of constant sin
Disobedience and darkness
Misguidance and aimless wandering
She stopped.
Sat to contemplate
Her stupidity, blindness
Back then.
She stopped.
Sat to contemplate
How she crawled through
The tunnel and found
A great treasure at the end
Light.
The clouds gathered around her
Bearing something heavy
Unexpected
They dropped their load
Upon her
It was cool, refreshing
Rain
Sent down from the heavens
From the Most Merciful
His Mercy
Forgiveness
Falls upon us
Like Rain.
© March 2005 - Umm Junayd.
So it’s about Allaah’s Mercy? Yes, it’s about Allaah’s Mercy. Allaah in His Infinite Generosity and Mercy towards His creation provides water indiscriminately despite their ingratitude and lack of recognition of Him. He sends rain forth from the sky to quench the thirst of parched land, despite the evil deeds many commit on the land He has provided for them.
He, subhaanahu wa ta’aala says (interpretation of the meaning):
Have you ever considered the water which you drink? Is it you who send it down from the clouds or are We the sender? If it be Our Will, We could turn it salty. Why then do you not give thanks? [Soorah al-Waaqi’ah (56): 68-70]
Last summer in the UK we had a ban imposed due to the low level of water in the country’s resevoirs - we were banned from using hosepipes to water our gardens or wash our cars. Now, Allaah pours water from upon high in great magnitudes. What are we saying? “The weather’s so miserable!”, “Why won’t it stop raining?” Then if there’s a shortage of water in the summer we begin to complain, yet Allaah rains His Mercy upon us - without us necessarily having to ask for it - despite the much evil that occurs on the land.
Indeed, His Mercy falls upon us like rain.
Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdik. Ash-hadu al-laa illaaha illa ant. Astaghfiruka, wa atoobu ilayk.
